The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-03-04
THAT GRAHAM GIRL.

L.
Well, it's all over, and I'm glad of it.
never want to camp out again as long
as live! Nor does Cara Murray. To
| think what lovely time we had antici-
pated, with Tracy Loring. the greatest
catch OF the year. along, and only dear,
| fat, stupid Mrs. Bartlett for our chape-
ron! There's no knowing what might
have happened had it not been for that
Graham girl.
She was govcrness to Mrs. Bartlctt's
two children, Tom and Tiny (the worst
young ones that ever breathedD and
Mrs. Bartlett said that she couldn't pos
sibly think of trusting herself and pre-
cious little ones into the wilderness I'M
less her dear, faithful Helen went along.
So, of course, Helen Graham went, and
so did Tracy Loring, Cara Murray, the
two Avery girls, and their collegian
cousins, Max and Will Collins.
1t was jolly fun ut first, for during the
journey on the cars Cara and l man
aged to secure Tracy ourselves. Then
we went by stage ten miles to lonely
farmhouse-a ''jumping-of place." as
Tracy called it-where we were to get
the guide and boat which were to take
US up Lake Moosetic--dear me, can
never remember those horrid Indian
names! But never mind. Tracy said
that he didn't just like the looks of our
guide, but Cara and thought him real
romantic. His name was Francisco,
and he was kind of Misunderstanding,
you know, with flashing, black eyes,
swarthy complexion, and long black
hair. And he wore sort of picturesque
Indian costume. He talked good deal
to us girls, and rolled his eyes, and
made up jingling bits of poetry that
didn't sound bad. Tom Bartlett said
that he smelled of onions and poor
whisky, but Tom was always making
horrid speeches. However, this time he
wasn't SO far out of the way, for, if
you'll believe it, we hadn't been camp
ing out week before that rascaliy
guide went off and left us in the midst
of bowling wilderness fifteen miles
from any living soul. Took our boat,
too! Aud we had to make our own
fires, and cook our own meals, and all
that-thlngs which we had paid him to
do. Mrs. Bartlett is over 40. but she
doesn't know thing about housekeep-
ing, for her husbands sister, who lives
with her, sees to everything. AS for the
Avery girls, they never enter kitchen,
nor do Cara and /. Tracy Loring knew
more than we did. for he could make
delicious coffee as well as broil fish. 1t
was late in the afternoon, with cold
rain and wind storm coming on, so that
it wouldn't have been prudent for the
gentlemen to undertake the long tramp
through the woods back to the Giles
farmhouse. Cara and felt wretched-
ly. In the first place, we were conscious
of looking drabbled and shabby-thcre's
nothing like that to lower woman's
spirits. You see. we had no idea of
what wild, crazy place the woods
were, and so we had worn dainty suits,
whose ruffles and pufs had soon became
crushed and crumpled. The Averys
were in the same fix. As for that Gra-
ham girl, she wore a plain, navy-blue
flannel gown, with short skirt and
blouse waist We had all made fun of
her behind her back, but after day or
two we were forced to acknowledge that
she looked far more dainty and tidy
than ourselves. Anyhow, Tracy Lor-
ing seemed to think her attractive, for,
from the very first, he treated her as an
equal with Care and me. and she laugh
ed and talked as freely as he did. She
never seemed to mind the least hint,
not even when ono day Cara threw out
something about. working-people know
ing their place. At first, though, she
drew herself up rather stately (she has
a fine figureD and looked Cara straight
in the eyes as if TO find out what she
meant, then smile began dimpling
the corners of her mouth, and she sang
out mischievously:
When Adam dclved and Eve span,
Who then was the gentleman?
But to 90 back to the time the guide
left us. We had to have supper, of
course, but what and howp
''rve got some fish, " said Tracy; "and
see that Max has picked some black
berries. can make tho coffee, but the
rest of the culinary affairs I'll have to
leave in the hands of you ladies'"
20, my goodness graciousv' groaned
Mrs. Bartlett, 81 never cooked q meal in
all my life!'
We all echoed her words, except Helen
Graham. who jumped up br1skly, say
ing; ''pll try to fix something. though
1t won't be very elaborate. for fear our
resources are limited. Pray, Mr.. Lor-
ing, what does our larder containp"
''Humph! Mostly canned goods,
believe. There are some loavcs of
bread, but" with sniff, 'fhey look
kind of queer, Miss Graham-they have
a pale, whity-green fuzz on the crust!
It's very esthctic-looking, to be sure,
butt doesn't smell goodr'
'Heat and moisture have made it
mold Bread molds easily in August
weather. and this is over a week old.